Method and apparatus for making threads from sheet material



Feb. 19, 1963 Filed Jan. 18, 1961 R. H. MARKS ET AL 3,077,723

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING THREADS FROM SHEET MATERIAL 3 Sheets-Sheet l 2/ i Z 7 o 3/ 35 2 5000/0 Mar/4a)" Zuzfie/ f. J/aAeJ INVENTORJ ATTO/P/IQ yr.

Feb. 19, 1963 R. H. MARKS ET AL 3,077,723

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING THREADS FROM SHEET MATERIAL Filed Jan. 18, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 19, 1963 R. H. MARKS ET AL 3,

METHOD AND APPARATUS F OR MAKING THREADS FROM SHEET MATERIAL Filed Jan. 18, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 fio/ro/a Mark; Zuf/ier J/okes A TOR/VfVJ hire This invention relates to a method and apparatus of slitting and twisting threads from a roll of sheet material such as paper, and more particularly relates to a method and apparatus providing for ready adjustment of the machine utilized to permit it to handle material of different strength.

In the patent to R. H. Marks No. 2,955,408, issued October 11, 1960, there is disclosed a process and apparatus for making threads from a sheet of material. In this apparatus the driving means for rotating the spindles provides the motive power to pass the material through the machine. Where different strength material is fed through the machine, an adjustment in tension of the material as it passes through the machine is desirable. Such adjustment may be provided by varying the weights on the twisting means. It will be appreciated that there are a number of spindles and twisters, and thus some time and labor costs are involved in varying the weights, and it would be advantageous if a way be provided for simply and economically varying the tension on the material passing through the apparatus shown in this patent.

In some instances it is desirable to pass material through the apparatus of this above identified patent which is relatively very weak. However, due to the very low strength of such materials, it is desirable to supply only a portion of the force for moving the material in the way taught in the Marks patent and to supplement this force with other means.

It is an object of this invention to provide in a machine for slitting and twisting material of the type in which the material is pulled through the machine by the spindles, a method and apparatus for varying the tension to be applied to the material without varying the tension applied by the spindles, to thereby permit the machine to readily handle materials of different strength.

Another object is to provide in a machine for slitting and twisting material of the type in which the material is pulled through the machine by the spindles, a method and apparatus for applying additional tension to the material as it passes through the machine.

Another object is to provide a method and apparatus as in the preceding object in which the selected tension in the material is maintained constant under varying operating conditions.

Another object is to provide in a machine for slitting and twisting material of the type in which the material is pulled through the machine by the spindles, a method and apparatus for applying an additional force which moves the material through the machine to permit the ready adaptability of the machine to materials of different strength.

Another object is to provide in a machine for slitting and twisting material of the type in which the material is pulled through the machine by the spindles, a method and apparatus for changing the tension in the material as it passes through the apparatus without varying the weight of the traveling button portion of the ring twister.

Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the specification, the drawings and the claims.

In the drawings, wherein illustrative embodiments of this invention are shown, and wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts:

3,377,723 Patented Fol). 19, 1%63 FIGURE 1 is a schematic elevational view of apparatus employing this invention;

FIG URE 2 is a fragmentary view similar to FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an isometric view of the drive roller section of the apparatus shown in FIGURES l and 2;

FIGURE 4 is a schematic view in side elevation showing a modified form of this invention;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary isometric view showing a modified form of control of the drive rollers; and

FIGURE 6 is a schematic fragmentary view in elevation illustrating a further modified form of this invention.

Referring first to the FIGURE 1 form of the invention, there is shown generally at lit a means for rotatably supporting a roll 11 of sheet material, such as paper or the like. The support means It) might take any desired form, such as the illustrated standard 12 on which a journal 13 is mounted for supporting for rotation the shaft or core on which the roll of paper 11 is mounted.

A cutting means for cutting the material into strips after it leaves the roll 11 is indicated generally at 14. This cutting means is well known in the art and includes a plurality of cutting knives which preferably are rotated at a speed slightly difi erent from the speed of the material passing through the cutting means.

After the paper has been cut into strips it passes through a rake means indicated generally at 15 which separates and spreads the strips apart in the conventional manner.

Means for treating each strip after it leaves the rake means is provided for each of the strips 16. Where paper is twisted the treating means will wet each strip with. water. One of these means is indicated generally at 17 and includes a trough 15 having suitable rollers 19, 26 and 21 over which the strip passes as it is conveyed through the trough 18. While only a single strip-Wetting system is shown, it will be understood that each strip 16 istreated in like manner as more fully illustrated in the above identified Marks patent. Where the material does not require treating, this portion of the system may be omitted;

Means for twisting and spindling the strips after wetting is shown generally at 22. A twisting and spindling means will be provided for each of the strips. The spindling and twisting means includes a spindle 23 driven by belt 2 on which the strips are spindled. A ring twister in cluding the ring track 25 and a traveling button as which travels about the ring track 25 provides for twisting of the strips. As the spindle rotates the traveling button 26 follows the rotation of the spindle and thus travels in a circle to twist the strip.

In accordance with this invention the spindling means imposes a tension force on each strip and provides a part of the force for moving the material through the apparatus in the manner taught by the above identified Marks patent. It will be appreciated that the amount of tension imposed by the spindling means will depend upon the weight of the traveling button 26. In the past it has been customary to change the weight of the traveling button by changing the number of weights associated therewith to permit the apparatus to accommodate material of different strength. It will be appreciated that, due to the large number of spindles involved in each machine, considerable time is required to change these weights when different strength material is being handled. This time is costly, both in labor cost and in down-time of the machinery.

In accordance with this invention, a separate means is provided for changing the tension on the material passing through the apparatus, thus permitting the Weights on the traveling button 26 to be left undisturbed when different weight material is passed through the apparatus.

The means for applying additional tension to the material may be any desired means which will apply an additional driving force to the material. In view of the 3 spreading of the strips at the rake, this means should apply the tensioning force before the material reaches the rake. Preferably, the force is applied upstream of the cutter 1.4 to avoid any possibility of the force-applying means resulting in breakage of threads.

In the FIGURE 1 form of the invention, the forceapplying means is provided by the drive roller assembly indicated generally at 27. As best seen in FIGURE 2, the material leaving the roll 11 passes over drive roller 28 and under drive roller 29. These drive rollers are in slipping engagement with the material passing through the apparatus and are driven at a speed which will apply the desired additional tension to the material to that applied by the spindling means. If desired, the drive rollers may be driven by a chain 31 running on sprockets 32 and 33 associated with drive rollers 28 and 29, respectively. The chain passes over idling sprockets 34 and 35 and is driven by sprocket 36. The sprocket 36 is driven by the prime mover 37 which in the FIGURE 1 form of the invention also drives the cutters of the cutting means 14. As shown in FIGURE 3, the arbor 38 of prime mover 37 may have sprocket 36 mounted directly thereon. In this form of the invention, the prime mover 37 would be of the variable speed type to permit the operator to select the driving speeds for material of various strengths.

In operation, it will be apparent that the FIGURE 1 form of apparatus carries out the method of this invention. The means 27 applies a selected driving force to the material of roll 11 and provides a part of the force for un reeling the roll. The cutter means 14 then slits the u'nreeled material into strips, after which the strips are separated and spread apart by the rake 15. The strips are then passed through the wetting means 17 which wets the separated strips. The strips are then twisted and spindled by the means 22 while the means 22 is applying through the spindling operation a tension to the strips to provide the remainder of the force for unreeling the roll of material.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, a modified form of this invention is shown in which the tension on the material passing through the machine is maintained at a substantially constant level regardless of varying operating conditions such as, for instance, the constantly reducing size of the roll of material 11. This apparatus and its method of operation are identical to that explained in conjunction with FIGURE 1 with the exception that the output of the motor driving the cutter means 14 and the drive means 27 is controlled in response to the tension in the material passing through the apparatus.

Means is provided for sensing the tension in the sheet of material by a tension plate 39 which is pivotally mounted for rotation about the central axis of shaft 40 and has a fiat surface over which the material passes in frictional engagement. The tension plate 39 is positioned to cause a slight bend in the material as it passes over the tension plate so that a variation in tension of the material will cause a variation in the force tending to rotate the tension plate about its pivot. This rotational tendency will be opposed by the tension spring 41 interposed between the arm 48 which is fixed to shaft 40 and an anchor such as wing nut 42. The arm 48 swings with the rotational movement of the tension plate 39 about the central axis of shaft 40-.

In accordance with this invention, the anchor point of spring 41 may be varied as best seen in FIGURE by the positioning of wing nut 42 to thus select the resistance which the spring 41 will interpose to movement of tension plate 39 about its pivotal mounting.

A suitable connecting arm 43 transmits the sensed tension on tension plate 39 to a means for applying additional force to the material passing through the apparatus. The force-applying means is so related to the tension-sensing means that the force applied will be varied in accordance with the sensed tension to maintain on the material passing through the apparatus a selected tension as determined by the force applied by tension spring 41. The control arm 43 might be associated with any suitable means indicated schematically at 44 for controlling the output of motor 45.

Thus, it will be seen that in this form of the invention the apparatus functions in the manner hereinabove explained in the discussion of the FIGURE 1 form of the invention, except that the additional force applied to the material as it passes through the apparatus is varied in accordance with the tension in the material to maintain the tension substantially constant, and thus maintain a selected tension in the material.

Referring now to FIGURE 5, there is shown a further modification of this invention in that the drive rollers are driven separately from the cutting means. In this form of the invention the connecting arm 43 operates the control arm 44 on a vari-drive 45 which is driven by prime mover 46. In accordance with the position of arm 44, the output shaft 47 of v ari-drive 45 will rotate at a selected speed. In other words, the motor 46 operates at a constant speed and the speed of the output shaft 47 is; varied relative to this constant speed by the position of the control arm 44. Of course, the position of arm 43 is determined by the tension in spring 41 and the tension in the material passing through the machine as sensed by the tension plate 39.

FIGURE 6 illustrates a modified form of this invention in which the means for applying a selected additional driving force to the material operates directly on the arbor 13a of the roll support means. In this case, the output shaft 47 of vari-drive 45 is connected to arbor 13a and, in accordance with the tension sensed in the material passing through the apparatus by tension plate 39, the motor 46 drives arbor 13a by an amount needed to maintain the tension in the material passing through the apparatus at the selected level.

From the above it will be seen that the objects of this invention have been attained. All of the advantages of the Marks patent identified above have been retained, while the additional advantage of simplicity of change in tension of the material has been provided for. Ohviously, this change in tension may be applied in any desired manner by any means acting on the material itself as it passes through the machine, or on the roll on which the material is reeled. While only a single form of tension-sensing means has been illustrated, it is obvious that other forms of tension-sensing means could be utilized to sense the tension in the material and signal the sensed value to the drive means for varying its output.

The apparatus and method of this invention may be utilized with any sheet-type material which it is desired to slit into threads and twist, such as paper, plastics, or the like.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is illustrative and explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illutsrated construction, may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Method of slitting and twisting threads from a roll of sheet material comprising, applying a selected driving force to the material to provide a part of the force for unreeling the roll, slitting the unreeled material into strips, separating and spreading apart the strips, and twisting and spindling the strips while applying through the spindling operation a tension to the strips to provide the remainder of the force for unreeling the roll of material.

2. Method of slitting and twisting threads from a roll of sheet material comprising, applying a selected tension to the material to provide a part of the force for unreeling the roll, slitting the unreeled material into strips, separating and spreading apart the strips, treating the sep arated strips, and twisting and spindling the strips while applying through the spindling operation a tension to the strips sufiicient to provide the remainder of the force needed for unreeling the roll of material.

3. Method of slitting and twisting threads from a roll of sheet material comprising, applying a driving force to the mateiial to provide a part of the force for unreeling the roll, slitting the unreeled material into strips, separating and spreading apart the strips, and twisting and spindling the strips while applying through the spindling operation a tension to the strips to provide the remainder of the force for unreeling the (roll of material, sensing the tension in the material after it is unreeled and before it is spindled, and varying said driving force in response to the sensed tension to maintain a selected tension in the material.

4. Apparatus for slitting and twisting threads from a roll of sheet material comprising, means for rotatably supporting a roll of material, cutting means for cutting the material into strips after it leaves the roll, rake means i'lor separating and spreading the strips apart, means for twisting and spindling the strips, said means for spindling said strips imposing a tension force on each strip and providing a part of the force for moving the material through the apparatus, and means applying a selected additional driving force to said material before it reaches the spindling means to provide the remainder of the force for moving the material through the apparatus, said last mentioned means providing an adjusting means for applying a selected tension to the material and providing for changing the tension in the strips to accommodate materials of different strength.

5. Apparatus for slitting and twisting threads from a roll of sheet material comprising, means for ro-tatably supporting a roll of material, cutting means for cutting the material into strips after it leaves the roll, rake means for separating and spreading the strips apart, means for treating each thread after it leaves the rake means, means for twisting and spindling the strips after treating, said means for spindling said strips imposing a tension forceon each strip and providing a part of the force for moving the material through the apparatus, means sensing the tension in the sheet of material, and means responsive to the sensing means for applying an additional force determined by the tension in the sheet of material for unreeling said material, whereby a substantially constant tension is maintained in said material.

6. Apparatus for slitting and twisting threads from a roll of sheet material comprising, means for rotatably supporting a roll of material, cutting means for cutting the material into strips after it leaves the roll, rake means for separating and spreading the strips apart, means for treating each thread after it leaves the rake means, means for twisting and spindling the strips after treating, said means for spindling said strips imposing a tension force on each strip and providing a part of the force for moving the material through the apparatus, means sensing the tension in the sheet of material, means responsive to the sensing means for applying additional force determined by the tension in the sheet of material for unreeling said material, whereby a substantially constant tension is maintained in said material, and means for varying the effect of the sensed tension on the force-applying means.

7. Apparatus for slitting and twisting threads from a roll of sheet material comprising, means for rotatably supporting a roll of material, cutting means for cutting the material into strips after it leaves the roll, rake means for separating and spreading the strips apart, means for treating each strip after it leaves the rake means, means for twisting and spindling the strips after treating, said means for spindling said threads imposing a tension force on each strip and providing a part of the force for moving the material through the apparatus, means sensing the tension in the sheet of material, and means responsive to the sensing means for applying an additional tension to the sheet of material determined by the tension in the sheet of material for unreeling said material, whereby a substantially constant tension is maintained in said material.

8. Apparatus for slitting and twisting threads from a roll of sheet material comprising, means for rotatably supporting a roll of material, cutting means for cutting the material into strips after it leaves the roll, rake means for separating and spreading the strips apart, means for treating each thread after it leaves the rake means, means for twisting and spindling the strips after treating, said means for spindling said strips imposing a tension force on each strip and providing a part of the force for moving the material through the apparatus, means sensing the tension in the sheet of material, means responsive to the sensing means for applying an additional tension to the sheet of material determined by the tension in the sheet of material for unreeling said material, whereby a substantially constant tension is maintained in said material, and means for varying the effect of the sensed tension on the force-applying means.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,747,866 Schmidt May 29, 1956 2,753,128 Thomas July 3, 1956 2,955,408 Marks Oct. 11, 1960 3,012,393 Shuttleworth et a1. Dec. 12, 1961 

1. METHOD OF SLITTING AND TWISTING THREADS FROM A ROLL OF SHEET MATERIAL COMPRISING, APPLYING A SELECTED DRIVING FORCE TO THE MATERIAL TO PROVIDE A PART OF THE FORCE FOR UNREELING THE ROLL, SLITTING THE UNREELED MATERIAL INTO STRIPS, SEPARATING AND SPREADING APART THE STRIPS, AND TWISTING AND SPINDLING THE STRIPS WHILE APPLYING THROUGH THE SPINDLING OPERATION A TENSION TO THE STRIPS TO PROVIDE THE REMAINDER OF THE FORCE FOR UNREELING THE ROLL OF MATERIAL. 